With the growth of Pentecostalism over the last few decades, conservative values and punitive sanctions related to the sexual behavior of adolescents and unmarried youth began to play an important and systematic role in Pentecostal and renewed Protestant churches as well as in charismatic Catholic communities. Simultaneously, religion has become an important and highly present factor in the lives of many adolescents and youth in Brazil. In terms of attempting to attract this age group, these churches and communities, stand out, as they have used their resources to create a space for this segment of the population to participate in a religious environment. Youth groups, dating groups, trade courses, lectures, aid work in poor communities, confirmation and other activities such as retreats and religious trips, have been frequently observed in these churches and charismatic communities. In this dissertation, I examine the associations between religious involvement and sexual initiation in Brazil. More specifically, I investigate (1) whether religious denomination and religiosity are associated with age at premarital first sexual intercourse, (2) whether these associations have changed over the last three decades, (3) how different churches and religious leaders address sexual behavior issues, and (4) the mechanisms through which religion can influence adolescents’ sexual behavior in Brazil. These research questions are assessed by employing multiple data sources and methodologies including three Demographic and Health Surveys carried out in Brazil in 1986, 1996, and 2006 and event history analysis, as well as in-depth interview data and participant observation among different religious groups and affiliations by attending several Catholic masses, Protestant religious services, youth groups, Sunday schools, and religious talks/lectures. Quantitative and qualitative findings of this dissertation show that adolescents and youth from Pentecostal churches and communities seem more likely to delay or abstain from premarital sexual initiation when compared to traditional Catholics. I conclude by suggesting that the dissemination of conservative norms and sanctions as well as the availability of greater space for youth to maintain close relationships with these churches have helped create mechanisms through which religion can directly and indirectly influence the lives and sexual behavior of young people in Brazil. / text

In the United States, the rates of unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection, caused by unprotected sex is alarmingly high. Adverse outcomes of unprotected sexual intercourse continue to be a burden, not only for affected adolescents but for the community at large. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, this study applied the PRECEDE model as a means to identify those salient risk factors and risk conditions of sex initiation and engagement in unprotected sex among adolescent students. Results showed that 52.6% of the students have had sexual intercourse and 54.5% of sexually experienced students reported inconsistent condom use during sexual intercourse. Logistic regression analysis showed that risks factors for having had sexual intercourse differ from those for having engaged in unprotected sex in sexually experienced students. Furthermore, these factors also differed between male and female students. Only students’ age and perceived hardships related to pregnancy were found to be common risk factors for both outcomes in both sex groups. Results suggest that the PRECEDE is a practical tool to aid program planners identify the intervention priorities most relevant to their target populations.

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Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-07T15:09:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1112321 bytes, checksum: ef37a15406c068f9d2f8dd6a94d35ad2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-09-12 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This study aims to question the reasons why despite all knowledge produced in researches on sexuality and reproductive health there is still a great unfamiliarity with the individuals regarding their own sexualities. Thus, the main objective of the survey was to investigate the awareness of students from public elementary school in Joao Pessoa municipality, state of Paraiba regarding the matter of sexuality and sexual initiation. The research bases on a quantitative and qualitative type of phenomenology documentation, aiming to identify and comprehend the perceptions/ representations of students from 8th and 9th grade of a public school in Joao Pessoa municipality. In order to meet following representations we appealed to the student s speeches used to interpret what has been transmitted to them. Several techniques such as questionnaires, semi- structured and individual interviews, as well as direct observation were applied and combined in this study. Qualitative depth of the speeches collected came through content analysis. When asked if there was a difference between sex and sexuality, circa 35% of interviewees answered no , represented by 18.9% young females and 16.2% young males. Non- answers were represented by 8.1% of the students and 1.4% claimed not knowing the difference. Despite masturbation is strongly linked to the male gender, it was also determined that both groups relate the practice with the search for pleasure represented by 48.6%, being 26.5% young females and 12.2% young males. The quest for self- consciousness stood in second place among the students, represented by 10.8% (being 4.1% young females and 6.8% young males). From the population that considered masturbation as a search for pleasure the majority of 24.3% represented Catholics and 10.8% Protestants. Students were also asked about the initiation of their sex lives. Young males shown to represent the majority regarding initiation of sexual relations, represented by 17.6% (being 13.5% African- Americans, 2.7% Caucasians and 1.4% Asians). The same numbers suffered a severe decrease when we referred to young female population: only 5.5% had had sex, being 4.1% African- Americans and 1.4% Caucasians. The average age of first sexual relation among the students were 11.7 years old. Among young males, the average age was determined at 11.8 years old. As the main reasons elected by the students for having their first sexual experience, most of the population that had already had sex claimed that their first time occurred due to desire/ attraction (represented by 12.2% of the students- being 9.5% young males and 2.7% young females). Followed by curiosity representing the second main reason for 8.1% of the students, being 5.4% young males and 2.7% young females. Through the present survey, it was possible to determine the challenges e difficulties of exercising sexual education outside a regulatory and broad perspective, escaping from naturalizing and biological concepts. / Neste estudo questiona-se porque apesar de tanto conhecimento sobre sexualidade e saúde reprodutiva que se tem produzido em pesquisas, há um grande desconhecimento dos indivíduos em relação às suas próprias sexualidades. Diante do exposto, este estudo teve como objetivo investigar que conhecimentos os estudantes, de uma escola pública de ensino fundamental do município de João Pessoa/PB, apresentam sobre temas relacionados à sexualidade e iniciação sexual. A pesquisa tem um caráter quantitativo e qualitativo fenomenológico em que se busca identificar e compreender as percepções/representações de alunos/as das 8º e 9º séries de uma escola pública Municipal localizada no município de João Pessoa, PB. Desta forma, para conhecer estas representações, recorre-se para o discurso que esses estudantes empregam para interpretar o que a eles é transmitido. Neste estudo, foi realizada uma combinação de diferentes técnicas, tais quais: aplicação de questionários, entrevistas individuais semi-estruturadas e observação direta. O aprofundamento qualitativo dos discursos coletados foi por meio da análise de conteúdo. Ao serem perguntados, em questionário, se existe diferença entre sexo e sexualidade, cerca de 35% dos que responderam disseram que não, sendo 18,9% moças e 16,2% rapazes. Ficaram sem responder 8,1% dos estudantes e 1,4% disseram que não sabiam a diferença. Constatou-se, também, que apesar de a masturbação estar fortemente ligada ao sexo masculino, ambos os grupos a associam à busca de prazer 48,6%, sendo a moças a maioria com 36,5% e 12,2% para os rapazes. A busca pelo autoconhecimento ficou em segundo lugar na opinião dos (as) estudantes, com 10,8% (4,1% para as meninas e 6,8 para os meninos). Dos que consideram a masturbação como uma busca pelo prazer, a maioria 24,3% é católica e 10,8% são protestantes. Os (as) alunos (as) também foram perguntados se já haviam iniciado sua vida sexual. Notou-se que os rapazes são a maioria dos que já tiveram relação sexual, 17,6% (13,5% são negros, 2,7% são brancos e 1,4% amarelo). Estes números diminuem bastante quando nos referimos às meninas: apenas 5,5 dos que já haviam transado, sendo 4,1% negras e 1,4% branca. A idade média da primeira relação sexual para as estudantes foi de 11,7 anos. Já para os rapazes, a idade média foi 11,8 anos. Entre os motivos elegidos pelos alunos para se ter a primeira relação, a maioria dos que já haviam transado disse que a primeira vez ocorreu por desejo/atração (12,2% - 9,5% para os rapazes e 2,7% para as moças), seguido de curiosidade com 8,1% dos quais 5,4% se referem aos meninos e 2,7%, às meninas. Através da presente pesquisa, pode-se constatar que os desafios e as dificuldades de se trabalhar a educação sexual fora de um prisma normatizador e abrangente, fugindo dos discursos naturalizantes e biológicos.

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Text in English / Teenage pregnancy remains a major social, economic and health challenge in South Africa. The consequences of unplanned teenage pregnancies are devastating. The current study explored the impact of teenage pregnancy on disadvantaged adolescents in Mpumalanga. Fourteen adolescent girls were selected, using the purposive sampling technique. The objectives were to explore the experiences of adolescence, as well as their knowledge of various methods of preventing teenage pregnancy, and how they cope with the pregnancy. The study further explored programmes that are available to assist with teenage pregnancies in the community. Data was collected using in-depth one on one interviews to allow the researcher a platform to ask open-response questions. The data was thematically analysed by carefully categorising and expanding significant themes that emerged from the participant’s responses. The study revealed that lack of knowledge about sex and contraceptives, unhealthy coping strategies, lack of support from parents and peer pressure are all effects of teenage pregnancy and the reasons for participating in unprotected sexual activities. Recommendations for overcoming these challenges were provided to the community, schools and government organisations as guidelines in the establishment of youth programmes. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)